From: Rick Anderson <[log in to unmask]> Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2013 20:48:43 +0000 Statement of Support for Dale Askey In response to a personal blog post assessing the quality of Edwin Mellen Press and its publications, since removed, Edwin Mellen Press filed two libel lawsuits, one naming Dale Askey and his employer McMaster University, and one naming only Askey. The 3.5 million dollar lawsuit against Dale Askey and McMaster University was dropped on March 8, 2013, however the 1 million dollar lawsuit filed by Edwin Mellen Press founder Herbert Richardson against Dale Askey remains in effect. Academic freedom and freedom of expression are core values of higher education and librarianship. Librarians continually assess, review, and disseminate information about library resources. Sharing professional opinions about library resources, positive or negative, does not merit legal action. The lawsuit against Askey is an unjustified attack on academic freedom. The library faculty at the J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah join with the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and numerous other academic and professional organizations in calling upon Edwin Mellen Press to withdraw its remaining lawsuit against Dale Askey. Rick Anderson Interim Dean, J. Willard Marriott Library University of Utah [log in to unmask]